How many times have you passed by someone and just cordially said, "Hi, how are you?", and just kept walking? Nine times out of ten we don't expect a full report of how that person is doing. We just assume they will reply with, "Fine, how are you?" One of those unexpected responses came my way Sunday. I had just finished teaching my Sunday School class and was on my way to pick up Gracie from her class, take her to the restroom one last time before the church service and sit with my husband. While I was quickly walking to Gracie's class, I ran into a fellow church member in the hallway. We exchanged smiles. "Hey, how are you doing?" I asked. "Not too good," she said. My feet wanted to keep walking, but I was so surprised that she didn't give the pat answer that most people do. I felt like I needed to stop and ask her more. She started crying and told me she was looking for a job. She had just gotten a divorce, has 3 children to care for and for first time in 11 years, she was having to go back to work just to put food on the table. She was scared and needed someone to talk to. So I stayed behind to listen to her and encourage her.
James tells us in James 1:9 that we should be "quick to listen and slow to speak". Isaiah 50:4 says, "The Lord God has given me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens me morning by morning, He wakens my ear to hear as a disciple." Isaiah said that the Lord had given him the tongue of a disciple, a learner or one who is taught, so that he would know how to "speak a word in season" to the weary.
Do you see any discouraged, tired people in the Body of Christ? Of course. We have serious problems in the world today. But there are also many born again Christians who are needy. Nehemiah 8:10 say, "The joy of the Lord is my strength". Joy is not found in our circumstances, it is found in Christ who lives within us. We are learning to find our joy in Christ alone. Speaking words in due season to one another will keep us from growing weary. We need to train ourselves to keep one ear tuned to God.
1 comment:
You are always such an awesome inspiration and motivator to me. I love to read your blog and see what God has done in your life and love that you are not ashamed to share it with people reading. Keep being used, you are a blessing to many people and its awesome to see somebody use their celebrity to further the kingdom of God and not themselves. God is well pleased I assure you!
Post a Comment